The Cranberries – Never Grow Old
This morning.
Just ‘dropped’.
Celebrating what would have been Dolores O’Riordan’s 50th birthday.
The band wrote on Facebook:
“In order to celebrate all that she inspired and the joy that she has given on her 50th Birthday, her bandmates, friends and family, have pulled together a brand new playlist called ‘Remembering Dolores’ which is available now on all streaming platforms.”
Cat Dowling – Freedom
If you go down to the beach today…
Kilkenny-born, Dublin-based songsmith Cat Dowling spoils us with yet another cracking alt.rock tune that brings to mind the halcyon days of PJ Harvey. It’s her first single since signing to cult label Forever In Financial Arrears (FIFA).
Cat says:
“Sometimes we think big. Sometimes we think small. Sometimes we think with all we have got. When we have limited access to other humans, the humans closest to us are the most important humans of all.
“This video was filmed on a bitingly-cold December afternoon when light was sparse, winds howled and the skies randomly opened. We managed to find the sun, fell in love with the wind and forgot about the camera. It was mainly filmed on Donabate beach and Dollymount Strand in Dublin. Freedom is best explained and expressed in childhood when there are no limitations, everything is possible and we are free to be truly ourselves.”
Nick says: Cat power.
Paul Callan – The Chesty Crow
This bird has flown.
Lo-fi Louth-based songsmith Paul Callan continues his ambitious monthly musical journey with a spell-binding strum that evokes memories of early Elliott Smith.
Paul writes:
“This year I will release one song per month. All songs are produced by myself in (or around) my one-room cabin buried deep in the woods of Ireland’s North East . This will then be compiled, along with some other songs, into an album which will be released when the year is over.”
The previous months’ entries are all available at his bandcamp page.
Nick says: Fly me to the tune.
Four In The Morning – Keep It Together
In the wee small hours…
Led by Kevin Dolan, this new four-piece have created a brooding and intense ballad for the sleep-deprived as the lead single from their new EP Stress Dreams.
Kevin writes:
“I didn’t really notice until the record was finished how many references to sleep and dreams there were across it. The songs are obsessed with family, longing, stress, depression, love, and how we make sense of all of it. They’re fragments, feelings, and a means of coping.”
Kevin is joined by fellow musicians Kiran Srinivasan, Dan Walwyn and Alex Lees and they honed their songwriting craft over the first lockdown.
Nick says: Insomniacs on the loose.
Nylophone – Last Summer
“Last summer wind was in your hair. Loving laughter filled the air”
Introducing a great new talent: Niall Woods (top) aka Nylophone beguiles with this dream-pop masterpiece that sounds like the love child of Alvvays and The Beach Boys.
To quote the press blurb:
“The phrase ‘Last Summer’ is playfully used to mean both the summer that passed and the final summer that will ever be.”
ROMY (Ruth O’Mahony Brady) adds gorgeous backing vocals and drums/mixing is by Rian Trench.
The video by Lucy Nuzum is also a bit special.
Nylophone plans to release an album in January.
Nick says: Dunes and tunes.
Far Caspian featuring BOYO – Pretend
Together in indie dreams.
The new video by Leeds-based, Northern Irish bedroom pop savant Joel Johnston (top) aka Far Caspian is a walk in the park.
With such an effortlessly melodic groove, Johnston is priming us for the release of his new album Ways To Get Out.
And let’s not forget his collaborator here BOYO aka cult Los Angeles lo-fi star Robert Tilden.
Great work all round.
Nick says: So Far so good.
‘sup?
Yesterday.
Bunowen Bay Beach, Slyne Head, Connemara, County Galway.
Paul Quin – Be Yourself Girl.
You ain’t heard nothing like The Mighty Quin.
Electro-soul singer Paul Quin serves up an intense and melodic exploration of love in these times with the second single from his forthcoming album Life On Earth on the Russian label ScentAir.
The intriguing promo features documentary maker and actress Luka Keating and Wexford actor Fintan Kelly (Game Of Thrones). It was created by SkyHigh Production Media Ireland.
The press blurb explains:
“A dark but uplifting ballad built around sax, piano and analogue synth sounds and beats, the song tells the story of a young trans woman struggling to find her place in an increasingly fast world, and the man who is pursuing her in an attempt to also discover and explore his true nature, beyond the expectations of society in 2021.”
Nick says: Don’t give up yer aul synths.
David Donohue – The Turning
“I took a walk out on the tide.”
Broadsheet is honoured to present the premiere of the soulful new video from David Donohue (top).
A cult figure from his days with his band The Floors, the Carlow-born singer/songwriter unfurls his debut solo album All My Lonely Friends on September 24.
Produced by David Ayers and featuring a who’s who of local talent including Adrian Crowley and Clive Barnes, the album is easily the comeback of the year.
The Turning, a country-tinged ballad, is the first single and features striking guest vocals from Niamh Regan as well as appearances by Enda Gallery, piano; David Ayers, guitar; and Jono Connell, bass.
Nick says: Swim when you’re winning.
Rushes – Blue Ghost
Come rave with me in Ireland.
Cork songsmith Rushes (top) remembers good times on the new single from his album Glowchild.
Rushes says:
“It takes me back to the first rave I went to; that feeling of just floating and the raw, unfiltered atmosphere of the environment. It’s probably the most abrasive song on Glowchild – while the intro is quite melodic and lavish with that arpeggiated synth line, it leads into a harder hitting rave, club-inspired track.
“‘Blue Ghost’ is about attachment and spiralling out of control. As the song builds, I am trying to find something greater than the attachment and looking to make sense of it, whether it was good or not.”
Nick says: Glow in the dark.
